Letting the commander go on, Geoff shrugs when she winds down. "Yes Commander. In all honesty, I didn't fully realized I punched him until after the fact. I just kept having the images and thoughts of that mass cas going through my brain and the realization that he was responsible for that. In addition, I would probably be in alot more trouble if I took a scalpel to his neck. I would consider it also fortunate I had stopped at one punch and didn't cause any real damage."

Shrugging once more, Geoff glances at the rest of the team to see if they have anything to add, then looks back at Commander Cohlen. "I'll get the report setup as soon as possible, but it seems that the local populations lacks both training and technology. They do seem to have knowledge of local resources that we could feasibly use in place of standard supplies. In addition, if they can help us in requisitioning knowledge of the local terrain, then it can help both of us out."

"That doesn't forgive it," Cohlen snaps, but she says no more, sullenly crossing her arms and glaring between the military parties. Braxus seems to dismiss her mentally as soon as she steps back

"I'll see if I can get some maps from them," Braxus says. "Or some guides. We're going to be sending patrols out soon, to try and find a new base or at least a good lay-over point where we aren't exposing any more locals than is strictly necessary. We don't want to expose the locals to Imperial reprisals either, so it might be best if we didn't ask for too many supplies, just in case.

"That seems to be everything. You should return to your quarters, but be ready to move at any time - you know the drill. Dismissed," you salute, turn, and leave the hall, heading back towards your billet.

As Braxus is about to leave, Liaka steps forward. "Sir, I'll volunteer to go on a patrol. Doubly so if we have any vehicles. I might be trained as a space pilot but I'm sure I can handle a speeder just fine."

After Braxus gives her a non-committal nod she leaves with the rest of the rebels. "Time for lunch, right?"

N97 also inquires from Braxus. He puts up on his display: "Inquiry: Sir, would you like me to disassemble the communication device to investigate its purpose?"

He also puts up a small picture on his display of the communication device he pulled from the wall in case the Lieutenant had become distracted and had forgotten about the device.

Because the droids comlink is integrated, while he is in discussion with Lt. Braxus he also opens a silent comlink to Chief Vwikk of engineering. "Chief, Specialist-Engineer N97 reporting. I am available for special assignment. Would you like me to report to you for a review of current maintenance tasks?"

The voice that N97 has chosen to use is a clear, but clearly droid-metallic, voice for his audible communications. Even though he a small selection of more organic sounding voices, the organics seem to prefer a voice that is consistent and can easily be identified as coming from a droid.

Kixue looks up from his work and it appears as if he was going to respond to what Cohlen had said but as Braxus dismisses her with a sweep of his hand he lets the matter drop. There was no point in arguing if the decision had already been made. Instead at the mention of lunch and patrol Kixue falls in step behind the lieutenant.

"Lunch then patrol sounds like a good idea."

"That would be a good plan," Braxus tells N-97. "I sent the device down to Chief Vwikk and his people, so I imagine its been ripped into little pieces by now, but you should head down and see how you can help."

As you are all leaving, Doctor Cohlen brushes past you and storms through the doorway ahead of you. She is stood just outside the door, trying to compose herself, as you leave.

N97 signs off with Lt. Braxus and turns to leave the briefing room. On his way out he can't help but straighten up a little bit.

As he passes villagers and other rebellion members he gives a mechanized wave or salute as needed. Making his way into the mid-morning light he finds Chief Vwikk.

He arrives and finds the engineering team busy working while Chief Vwikk doles out duties and assignments. On the makeshift table is the disassembled communication device. The droid having spent the night creating the engineering space and then organizing cataloging the equipment finds the Chief in a more pleasant than usual mood.

"Statement: Good Morning Chief, Sir. Specialist N97 reporting for duty. I hope you found the list of supplies and engineering location adequate?"

"Indeed, it was most satisfactory Unit Nova Nine Seven. Your programmer deserves great credit from the Alliance," Vwikk moves to the workbench where the device is placed. "You will disassemble the device, determine its origin, function and any other relevant data, and report your findings back to me. Do you understand?" the Verpine's mandible's twitch as he awaits a reply.

"Confirmation: Affirmative. Time estimate is 23 minutes for disassembly, 12 minutes of study."

N97 then unfolds his built in mechanics tools and hovers over the device for the few minutes it takes to take it apart. During the process he seems to pause as he watches a bit of black smoke rise from the device. Returning to work he finishes up near the 35 minute mark.

OOC

Mechanics - Inspect black box: 1eA+3eP+1eB+3eD 4 successes, 3 threat

N-97's inspection of the device reveals a great deal. While it has been heavily modified, it is an old Colthat Industries Watchbox-650, an item almost a century old that was originally used by industrial spies to snoop out messages between rivals on a single world. Countermeasures were soon developed against it, and within ten years it was entirely outmoded. However as modern technology moved on the expensive means by which communications systems defended against it were phased out, as there seemed no further need for such expense. Many of the devices found usage amongst pirates and other less-than-official groups, who used them to monitor for outgoing traffic and incoming security forces, while others were extensively modified to outmaneuver the security systems employed by less affluent companies. This one has been heavily modified, and was likely in use to monitor Imperial communications - though it will have picked up on all of yours since it was first extracted.

While most of the specimen's serial numbers have been filed off, N-97 manages to locate one hidden deep in the devices innards. Further research could determine the sale history of this device.

Daunting (PPPP) Computers or Knowledge (Underworld) check to trace the device.

Moving over to stand by Chief Vwikk, the droid waits for his attention. Then the Chief is ready N97 puts up his results, "Statement: Chief, Sir. The device is an ancient communications monitoring device, a Watchbox-650. It is now disassembled and non-functional, but it may have overheard some of our communications prior to its deactivation.Full report is on your data pad. I will trace its origin and report back. Estimated time is 42 minutes." He points to the communications with the details he just sent to the Chief's data pad.

Returning to the table he detaches his data pad from his arm and places it so that he can enter data quickly. Tapping away he spends the next 30 or so minutes researching the origins of this box and preparing his report for the Chief. Sending the report to the Chief he turns and waits for his response.

Investigate the Watchbox: 2eA+2eP+4eD 1 success, 1 threat

The device was one of the last manufactured. It was sold to the Nova Blaze pirate crew after approximately sixty years in a cold storage locker on Nar Shaddaa. Presumably some time after that it was installed here, though for what purpose you can only speculate, given that it was purchased forty years ago.

Vwikk receives the information as a message on his datapad. Nodding, he tucks the device into his toolbelt.

"Droid, tidy my workbench while I am delivering this information," he leaves the room. From outside N-97 hears him cheerfully telling his co-workers that he's just heading over to Braxus' headquarters to deliver the data.

"Confirmation: Yes, Sir. When complete that I wish to take a small team and evaluate the village for a project we may complete for them. To increase our good-will."

While 'speaking' to the Chief he uses his side sensors to count and evaluate the team in engineering, trying to find an ideal group of about 2-4 that can do a good-will project for the village.

Chapter 4 - A Deeper Darkness

It is sometime later in the day that you are summoned from your billet to a briefing with Lt. Braxus and several other teams. You recognise a few of the other soldiers, and in the time prior to the start of the briefing you take a moment to catch up with them. Braxus' entry stifles any conversation, and you take your seats as his adjutant activates a holoprojector, displaying a large topographical map of the surrounding region for a radius of two hundred kilometres around Alcatia.

"It's becoming clear to us that we can't stay here," Braxus doesn't exactly mince his words. "Our hosts are gracious enough, but every moment we're here exposes them to a risk of Imperial reprisals. We need to find a new base, and thanks to our friends from the southern hemisphere," here he nods to Liaka, and several other Rebels wearing flight kit. "We finally have the resources to do so. The delivery of six Arrow-25 airspeeders has opened up our ability to scout out a much larger area. You have been selected from our forces as our most reliable independent operators, because in this operation you'll be working as much on your own initiative as under orders," he adjusts the controls of the holo display, and the circular highlighted area recolours into six separate hues.

"Your craft have been modified with advanced sensor packages, which should allow you to map out large areas of terrain. You'll each take one of these highlighted areas and perform a full, detailed sensor sweep. The sensors will detect the sort of locations we may want to set up in, and we'll be keeping an eye on you from here. If you pick up anywhere good we'll ping you, and you can take a closer look," he pauses, allowing the wealth of information to sink in. "Any questions?"

"How long can we expect to be out for?" one soldier asks.

"At least five days, longer in areas of rough country. Team 1 will be out the longest, since they're pushing directly north into the Galassi Peaks, but you'll all be on extended deployment, so take plenty of supplies."

"What sort of enemy presence can we expect?" another cautiously enquires.

"Low to minimal. Teams Five and Six will have to watch out, as their respective areas will take them near to Nostria and its garrison, but otherwise this is all wild country. I doubt you'll see any hostiles, but if you do, then I'd advise you bug out and red-flag the area."

"Do we get a supply allowance?" this last soldier seems the most enthusiastic compared to his fellows, and you idly wonder about the motivation behind his question.

"You can make reasonable requests for additional gear, and we'll see about accomodating you, but nothing's guaranteed under the current situation," he looks around the room, at the assembled faces. "Any further questions?"

N97 Stands completely still during the briefing, but this was more to the fact that he is a droid and doesn't require the constant shifting and moving of flesh and sinew that the organics required.

After he dutifully recorded the orders he did some calculations on distance and time parameters and then created a list of equipment and supply needs for the trip. When completed he encrypted the orders and then stored all but the basic information in a secure offline storage area with his other sensitive rebellion data per his usual protocol. Retaining the list in memory he awaits his team's assignment.

His thoughts turn to the idea of getting in an airspeeder. Although never able to get air-sick, he certainly had no fondness for the travel method. All the rapid shifting of gravity, air pressure, humidity and temperature seemed to always play havoc with some of his sensors.

"You'll need to keep comms to a minimum; none at all if possible. Your speeders have been heavily modified - so try not to break them, because it was a hefty Alliance investment just getting them, and I'd be in five kinds of osik if they ended up scrapped - so that they can keep in contact via comms lasers, which are as inobtrusive as possible, even if there is a hefty communications lag. We'll ping you if needed, but otherwise you need to keep things quiet," he cedes the floor to one of his aides, a Duros with the brass crosshairs of a Forward Reconnaisance soldier on his collar, and a Master Sergeant's stripes.

"Our intelligence suggests the daylight flying is permissible. We don't expect the Empire to have air patrols above fifty miles from Nostria, so Teams Five and Six will need to be careful, but the rest of you should be fine. Indeed," he chuckles, looking around the room. "I'd advise you don't fly at night; you are meant to be looking for a base, and we rely on your initiative enough that your suggestions, as well as hard data, will be consulted. More than that, you'll need to rest; we'll try to assign at least one pilot per crew, but you aren't advised to spend too long at the helm for obvious reasons," he and Braxus let silence hang, waiting to see if anyone else will raise a point.

Oro leans back in his chair and quietly wonders which group they'll be. Probably the one going closest to the Imperials. And that's just fine with him.

A couple of days roughing it ........ not something Kixue had in mind. He would have preferred his first assignment on planet to be sneaking into the Imperial base. But orders are orders so Kixue leans back and waits to hear what grid his team has been assigned.

"If that's all, then I'll give out your assignments," Braxus picks up a datapad from the table, and begins listing off personnel assignments. "Atala, Hanson, Logray, Noman, N-97," you stand, ready to accept your orders. "You'll take Quadrant 1, the mountains to the north. Your speeder is parked in the town square; take some time to gather any requisite gear, and collect your mission supplies from Quartermaster Somal. You depart at 0600 tomorrow morning. Dismissed," you salute, and leave the room.

The Droid follows the others on his team out the door. The sky is starting to turn to a richer hue in the afternoon sun. Knowing the rebels have little extra supplies he turns to the village to locate any scrap or excess materials he might use.

After locating the person in town that is considered the "fix-it guy" he finds their location and knocks on the door. Not getting a response he heads around back and finds a female Sluissi doing welding. He patiently waits until she finishes her current task and then introduces himself.

Having a fascination with ancient technology she was receptive to interacting with N97. And while she did not have any usable scrap she should share, she did have an urgent need for help on a project.

Soon the hours passed and together they made good progress on her food preservation system for the town. Even though he didn't get any materials, in fact ended up donating some in the process of helping her, he did end up imparting a good impression of the rebellion.

ooc:

Streetwise to find scrap for creation: 2eA+2eD 1 failure, 1 advantage

Advantage to get some good-will with the village

Kixue salutes as his orders are given and he's dismissed. He glances at the others and offers them a smile. A week in the mountains, fun .......

Still ..... being given the harder assignment shows a bit of faith in this unit. If they do well they'll get recognition. Recognition leads to promotion. Promotion leads to better assignments on comfier fronts. Kixue heads out to inspect the speeder with the rest of his squad. He remains there when Liaka goes to get supplies. Noticing that she's returned without much in extra provisions.

"Let me see what I can get from the quartermaster." He offers and heads off to the makeshift armory.

Kixue offers a warm smile as he leans on the counter. "My squad and I are going to be in the mountains for a few days, we could use some thermal cloaks since I am told the winds are cold as Hoth."

Somal however just gives him a blank stare of disproval. She places the thermal cloaks on the counter and Kixue decides not to further press his luck.

"Thank you" he says as he hurries back to his squad.

The mission is not what you might call exciting. While searching for a new Rebel base is a vitally important task, the actual process is far more mundane. After boarding your speeder you set off north into the wilderness. While this area has been mapped, it is unsettled by all but the hardiest herders and hunter-gatherers, or else by flocks and herds of highly adapted mountain animals, well suited to life at such an altitude. Still the journey is not terrible, punctuated at least by idle discussion that bonds you together as a team and allows you to get to know one-another.

As you head further north the weather progressively worsens. You left Alcatia under a hot sun; by the third day you are charting endless rocky switchbacks carved into the mountainside under a slate grey sky. The air is thick and humid, your headsets crackling with static; it's obvious that the weather could turn nasty soon. Gusts of wind threaten to unbalance the speeder, but it's a hardy craft and Liaka is a skilled-enough pilot to control most of its excesses.

As you progress down the line of cut-ins, the com beeps with a laser-coded message from Command.

Three valleys back, grid ref 397-468. Good spot for a base. Check for further details. Out

The weather chooses this moment to break, but you have your orders.

Over the past three days the crew of the rebel airspeeder discovers that Liaka is a charming companion, eager to get to know the small team assigned to this mission. She always seems ready to talk when the rest of the group is in the mood, but also quite comfortable with the long silences that take over after a while when people run out of stories and jokes.

She also proves to be a very able pilot, and seems to enjoy piloting the fairly maneuverable airspeeder through the mountainside. When Command requests a closer check on a potential location for a base she seems relieved. "Well, finally something," she says in a cheerful tone to the rest of the crew.

"They could have picked a better weather for it," she grumbles as she turns the airspeeder around and heads towards the location indicated. The weather gets worse as she gets in closer with the mountain side and the vehicle is buffeted around by the wind and turbulence. "Yeah, you had better buckle up guys, this is going to get rough," the pretty Twi'lek says to the rest of the rebels as she tries to keep the vehicle level.

"We need to pinpoint the location and find a place to put down. Check it out on foot," Liaka says, peering through the rain. "Hey N-97, can you get a better reading or do we need to get in closer?"